Sunday, April 6, 2014

Silk Dyed Eggs

Growing up, our family had an Easter tradition of making pysanky eggs. It was very time consuming but the results were lovely. I have fond memories of all of us around the table for many hours working on our eggs. Each year we brought out the eggs we had made in the past years and had fun deciding what designs we would take on that year. My mother still has egg cartons full of them from our childhood and has now introduced the tradition to my children.

A few years ago I saw eggs dyed with silk. The intricate patterns reminded me of pysanky and I was intrigued. I liked the idea that they took a fraction of the time yet looked elaborate and beautiful. This year we decided to give it a go. It was so simple and we loved unwrapping our little egg packages to see how they turned out!

To create you will need:

eggs (at room temperature ~ it helps when blowing out the insides)

100% silk scarves or ties

white fabric (we cut up an old pillow case)

vinegar

elastics

tapestry needle or nail

To begin:

Begin by taking your eggs and pierce the top and bottom of the egg with a large needle. This can be done by older children (my nine year old loved the whole process) but obviously with care.

Next, pierce the egg yoke (we used a bamboo bbq skewer) to make for easier blowing and enlarge the hole at the end of the egg you will be blowing out from.

Seal your mouth around the top of the egg and blow.

Once the eggs are empty, rinse them out with water and blow out the water for nice clean eggs.

Gather up your silk.

Cut your silk into squares that will be large enough to wrap around the egg with some fabric left over to wrap an elastic around.

Decide what part of the pattern you want transferred onto your egg and wrap the silk tightly around the face of the egg. The tighter the silk is to the egg the better it will transfer. Be sure to have the right side of the silk on the inside, facing the egg.

Secure it tight with an elastic band in the back of the egg.

Wrap it again in a square of white cotton.

Place 1/2 cup of vinegar in a pot, fill with water and then add your wrapped eggs. Gently weigh down your eggs so they don't float above the water (we used a glass lid that was a bit smaller than the pot).

Bring it to a boil and let simmer for 20 minutes.

Rinse them in cold water until you can handle them and then it's time for the most exciting part! Unwrapping them!!!

We were in awe at how this process worked. So amazing!

The back where it was scrunched up was even beautiful. Almost a tie dyed look.

The eggs are amazing! Might give it a shot this year! I was wondering.. I enjoy following you and you seem to have a craft for any item... I was wondering..do you have any use/craft/thing to make, using credit cards? Not REAL credit cards, but like membership cards that have expired or often in the mail I will get a phoney credit card from a place offering me an account things like that. They are a sturdy, plastic unit, they are a unique size, and I just think there has to be something to do with them that is usable, practical,good thing to have or use..that kind of craft. Do you know of any thing to make or anything to do with them?